Dear Nature and Nurture,

I'm not sure which one of you is responsible for the conversation below that certifies I am indisputably my mother's daughter, but either way, thanks. And, for the record, the blender has been washed and is drying in the drying rack even as I type.

Me, 10:44 a.m.

Even when I buy all the ingredients for smoothies, I still don't make them because I hate cleaning the blender so much. That's truly dumb. So today while I was waiting for my tea to steep, I made two blenderfuls of smoothie and poured them into jars and now I have like 6 smoothies and only have to wash the blender once. Not that I've actually washed the blender. I left it soaking in the sink before running far away and trying to pretend it won't be waiting for me when I go back to the kitchen.

Mom, 12:01 p.m.

So funny!!!  Right now I have the smoothie ingredients sitting in my blender waiting for the strawberries to soften a bit.  And the only reason I'm making one is because all the yogurts I got to make them are getting old and I need to use them.  Because, I too, hate washing the blender!  And yogurt is so hard to get off.  I wonder if they use yogurt to build houses with in Greece.  

Hugs & kisses,

B

Dear BFF,

I'm still laughing. Thanks for watching out for my future.

Hugs & kisses,

B

Dear Verragio Engagement Ring Commercial,

"For a diamond as unique as your love"? Really? How do you say these lines without cracking up?

"Falling in love has never been so much fun with Verragio diamonds!"

>.<

Hugs & kisses,
B

Dear My Favorite Local Ice Cream Shop,

You're seriously opening a new location this spring? Two blocks from my house?? When I'm trying not to succumb to the imminent 30s weight gain???

Hugs & kisses,
B

Dear Tuesday,

Today's Tuesday but that means nothing to me anymore. Tuesday has meaning only in a normal Monday to Friday work week. When you work the weekend through, you need a different base.

I remember in 6th grade math learning about Base 10, and how we think in 10s because we have 10 fingers. But if we had 12 fingers, we'd think in 12s: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 <dec> <el> 10.

That's how I feel about Tuesday. When Saturday and Sunday become part of the regular work week, and when you log >80 hours at work within 8 consecutive days, we need a different base to create meaning out of what those days mean.

I'm too tired to come up with that new base right now though. All I know for sure is I should stop being hard on myself for not wanting to get out of bed, even though it's only Tuesday.

To the hope of better days to come,

B

Dear Sandals,

I saw you in the back of my closet the other day, sitting there all lonely and unloved, with your toefreeing straps and contoured sole, and my heart went out to you. You poor footwear, useable only a few months of the year, relegated to exile during the winter months when a few free moments would mean frostbite for the feet. You might feel ignored, trapped, a victim of the weather, but don't worry, my dear sandals. I still love you and am counting down the days until we can go on adventures together again.

Hugs & kisses,
B

Dear Phil,

From one Pennsylvanian to another, you're making us look bad.

Hugs, kisses, and a neverending winter,

B